2006-2007 Monthly Champions
Golden Strip Career Center
Thyme On Our Hands Herb And Vegetable Garden
Teacher: Linda Price
April 2007
This year an herb and vegetable garden came to life when the horticulture class at the career center removed a 25’ x 40’ area of pavement. The exposed soil provided a great place for a compost bin to be sited. Also, in addition to providing fresh herbs for food preparation, this area reduces storm water runoff and allows rainwater to soak naturally into the ground to replenish groundwater supplies. This unique area is shared with visitors to the Career Center.
Golden Strip Career Center Culinary Arts students are reducing their organic food wastes, reusing them instead to become compost for the garden where they harvest herbs, flowers and produce for their culinary work.
Fountain Inn Elementary School
Courtyard for the Environment
Teacher: Sarah Vaughan
March 2007
Fountain Inn students, parents and the community are working together on a “Courtyard for the Environment”. This hands-on learning garden is part of an effort to improve outdoor air quality around the school. The garden reduces the area that requires mowing near the school. This protects student’s lungs from harmful lawnmower emissions.
Trees, planted as part of the garden’s design, will shade the school, reducing energy use. The trees will also “clean the air” and reduce storm water runoff. The garden will be used as a learning lab by all grade levels.
Sara Collins Elementary School
Fruit, Flowers And Compost: An Organic Garden
Teacher: Jamie Taber
March 2007
Student members of the Garden Club are working on an organic garden. The garden will be set up so that even students in wheelchairs can work in it. Students will sell produce from the garden. They will press flowers to make environmental note cards. The money they earn will be used for the garden and given to other environmental projects.
“This project is great for the students and the environment”, states teacher Jamie Taber. “We are improving the quality of the soil with compost. And, protecting water quality by not using chemicals in the garden. The students learn about healthy food choices, practice life skills and are physically active in the garden.”
Hilton Head High School
Conservation Courtyard
Teacher: Laura Gottardo
February 2007
The Student Training Empowerment Program (STEP) of Hilton Head High School is creating habitat for butterflies using native plants. While Hilton Head Island has many plants, those that are used by native species of butterfly are in short supply. Plants that provide food for adult butterflies and food for young caterpillars will be used.
The “Conservation Courtyard” will also be a place for learning. STEP students will write lessons and teach younger students about native species and the environment. And, the community will be able to enjoy the courtyard too.
Kelly Mill Middle School
The Wetlands and Water Wizards
Teachers: Juli Jones, Brenda Kirkland, Kari Cope, Alvin Allen, GeGe Harris
January 2007
Seventh grade students in the Leaders Investigating the Future Today (LIFT) Academy at Kelly Mill Middle School have been wading into wetland habitats. Their wetland studies have led them to teach others about the importance of clean water.
Students have shared tips about conserving water with family and friends. They also plan to write letters to lawmakers. These letters will ask lawmakers to protect wetlands. The Wetlands and Water Wizards want everyone to know that wetlands protect our water quality.
West Ashley High School
WATER Wildcats
Teacher: Margaret Spigner
December 2006
The West Ashley Team of Environmental Researchers have already worked to get a greenspace buffer along the road to the school. Greenspace protects habitat for plants and animals, improves storm water control, and provides many other benefits.
These students also want to educate their community about nature. They are adding signs to the school’s nature trail. The signs tell about plants, animals, wetlands, greenspace and how to control storm water runoff. Other WATER Wildcat projects are building a boardwalk to an existing wetland observation platform and getting an observation camera to study a resident pair of nesting osprey.
Trident Academy
Bag O’ Bags
Teacher: Katie Ryan
November 2006
Students at Trident Academy are doing something about plastic bag pollution. Plastic bag litter can block storm drains and hurt wildlife that get tangled in the plastic. In the ocean, animals can mistake the bags for food and try to eat them.
Fourth and fifth grade students, with the assistance of art teacher, Ms. Urbano, are sewing cloth bags. The cloth bags are used to hold plastic bags for reuse or recycling. So far the bags have been shared with parents and the school’s staff. Next, the students want to make bags to give out to members of the community.
Oakland Primary School, Brewington Academy, Lakewood High School
Making it Sweeter the Second Time Around
Teachers: Ms. Anderson, Dr. Jackie Law, Ms. Perry
November 2006
Jennifer Anderson’s kindergarten students are making treasure from trash. With help from high school students at Brewington Academy and Lakewood High School, the kindergartners are making purses out of juice pouches. The purses will be given to female senior citizens in local nursing homes. The students involved in this project are learning that you don’t have to throw something out when you are finished with it.
Reusing items instead of throwing them away helps the environment by reducing the pollution that comes from putting trash in landfills. It also reduces the pollution that comes from taking raw materials out of the earth and turning them into new products.
Paris Elementary
The Growing Place
Teacher: Judy Durham
October 2006
Second grade students at Paris Elementary in Taylors are part of a multi-year project to develop “The Growing Place”. Their focal point is a small area of woods. These woods are all that remain of a larger stand of woods on the school’s former site. Students understand that trees clean the air, protect soil and reduce storm water runoff.
The students will preserve the woodland, create a habitat for wildlife and create an outdoor classroom. They are starting by planting annuals to attract beneficial insects and placing birdhouses and feeders to attract birds. “The Growing Place” will also be available to the community to enjoy the benefits of a natural area.
Willow Lane School
Vivariums of South Carolina
Teacher: Beverly McClanahan
September 2006
The Vivariums of South Carolina project at Willow Lane School, South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, allows students to study the environment in their Media Center. A vivarium is a place for keeping live animals for observation. Five aquatic habitats have been created using native plants and animals. Caring for the vivariums lets students learn about the needs of living things. They also research environmental issues affecting natural habitats such as water quality and human encroachment.
View the 2005-2006 Monthly Champions
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